Device for mounting and operating electrodes



N0 .3 9, 93 A. FRANCHINI ET AL 1,839,232

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Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ALFRED KRANCHIFII ANDPAUL GIROD, OF CANNES, FRANCE; SAID FRANCHINI' ASSIGNOR TO SAID G'IRODDEVICE FOR, LIOUNTIN G AND OPERATING ELECTRODES Application filedNovember 4, 1929, Serial No. 404,816, and in France August 27, 1929.

The present invention relates to improvements in devices for mountingand operating the electrodes of an electric furnace or an electrolytictank, preferably of the type comprising multiple electrodes. The saidimprovements are chiefly applicable to aluminium furnaces, and theyprovide for the ready replacing of the worn parts of the electrodes,also facilitating the access to the centre of the bath by the removal ofan electrode.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawingswhich is given by way of example, relates to a suitable em bodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 1 is a View of the apparatus in which the electrode is secured to afixed member or to a movable member, also showing the means fordisplacing the latter.

Fig. 2 shows disposition of the central electrode and the outerelectrodes upon a fixed support, as well as the displacement of anelectrode so as to give access to the centre of the bath.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of an elec trode and its support.

Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in vertical section showing the apparatusin accordance with this invention as applied to a furnace.

The said device can be used with any of the current types of electricfurnaces or tanks. The cathode usually consists of suitable piecesforming the bottom of the chamber of the furnace or the bottom of thetank holding the bath, and the current is supplied to said cathode bysuitable means.

The upper electrode consists of a certain number of anodes, and theseare provided with the said device according to the invention.

With reference to Figure l, the electrodes are mounted in a fixedsupport consisting of the plate 1 which is optionally secured to thetank, as may be required, and the said plate is apertured for theinsertion of each electrode; corresponding to each aperture, the saidplate carries an upper ring 2 and a lower ring 3 serving to guide theelectrode and also to protect it against the oxidizing action of theair. The electrode also passes through a movable collar l which may bedisplaced with reference to the fixed support 1.

The electrode is secured to the fixed support and to the movable collarby suitable means such as the set screws 5 and 6 shown in the figure.

The movable collar can be connected to the fixed support by any suitablemeans, and Figure, 1 shows a very simpledevice for this purpose, andwherein the collar 1, and one of the rings such as 2 each carry twodiametrically disposed journals or axles 7 and 8, the axles? serving forthe ring 2 and the axles S for the collar 4. At each side of theelectrode, an axle 7 and an axle 8 are connected to anaxle 9 disposed atthe respective end of a strap 10, by means of the links 11, in suchmanner that the said links will constitute a deformable triangle at eachside of the electrode.

The central part of the strap 10 is apertured for the insertion of athreaded rod 12 secured to the ring 2, and upon this rod is screwed ahand wheel 13 mounted loose on the strap 10, and thus each end of thesaid strap is situated at the apex of the respective triangle, and thislatter can be expanded or contracted according as the strap is movedtowards or from the electrode. Said strap might be displaced bymechanical means, op tionally controlled according to the amount ofcurrent in the electrode.

The operation of the electrode is as follows: The electrode is insertedthrough the collar 4 and the rings 2 and 3, and is lowered near thesurface of the bath, being then secured to the fixed support by means ofthe screw 5. The movable collar 4 is then raised to the maximum byscrewing the hand wheel 13 upon the rod 12; the screw 6 of the movablecollar 4 is then screwed down in order to secure the electrode in thiscollar, then releasing the screw 5 so as to disengage the electrode fromthe fixed support. The hand wheel is then turned and thus screwed back,thus closing up the triangle formed by the links 12, and the electrodeis thus brought nearer'the bath. The amount of current carried by theelectrodes is thus regulated by me screwing into the adjacent sections.

the use of the hand wheel, and the electrode can also be lowered as itbecomes worn.

When the triangle has been closed to the maximum, the screw 5 istightened and the screw 6 released, thus securing the electrode to thefixed support and releasing it from the movable collar, then the saidcollar is raised, and the aforesaid operation is again commenced. Whenthe electrode becomes too short, another unit piece is added, as abovementioned.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred arrangement of multiple electrodes, comprisinga central electrode 14 and a plurality of electrodes 15 disposed in acircular row around the central electrode. A portion 16 of the fixedsupport carrying one of the electrodes 15 is pivotally mounted on anaxle 17, and the electrode can thus be rotated, after it has been raisedout of the bath, to facilitate the removal of the metal at the centre ofthe furnace. The position of the part 16, after this rotation, is shownin dotted lines.

As shown in Figure 3, the anode consists of a plurality ofinterchangeable sections 18, which are connected together by cores 19The current is supplied to the anodes by rigid conductors which arebrought as far as the said fixed support on the tank, and the current isthen carried by flexible conductors leading to the anodes. The contactat the top of each anode is. made by a bronze socket 20 having the samediameter and screwthread as the cores 19; the said socket carrying athreaded rod 21 upon which the flexible conductor (not shown) maybemounted. Any other suitable means for supplying the current can beemployed.

As the anodes become worn, a new section is added at the top of thesuperposed sectionshown in Figure 8, and for this purpose the flexibleconductor is removed and the socket 20 unscrewed, then screwing in itsplace the new section already provided with its core; the socket is nowscrewed into the top of this section, finally mounting the flexibleconductor as before.

Obviously, the constructional form represented in the drawings is not ofa limitative nature, and it is susceptible of all desired modificationswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

Apparatus for mounting electrodes comprising an apertured horizontalmain plate, a'side section plate having an aperture therespecification.

ALFRED FRANCHINI. PAUL GIROD.

through and pivoted to said main plate so as to swing laterally thereof,a plurality of vertical tubular members extending from said main plateand side section plate arranged concentric with said apertures forreceiving the electrodes, and independent means associated with eachelectrode and its mounting for supporting and adjustably raising and

